Seth Akintoye, Manager, Editorial Training and Language Control at Punch Nigeria Ltd writes on the exit of Akeem Lasisi from The Punch after fifteen years.
Akeem Lasisi, another exponent of ideas, joins Ex-Punchers Club
It was William Shakespeare who said in Julius Caesar: “There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.
Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat.
And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.”
This, to some extent, is true of Akeem Lasisi, who said goodbye to PUNCH yesterday. He had planned to leave the organisation some years back, but was prevailed upon to stay on. However the moment of truth came yesterday when finally he said goodbye to PUNCH.
Like everything that has a beginning, the final stay of Akeem in PUNCH came, and he grabbed the opportunity with the two hands.
Emotions were displayed; speeches were made, pictures were taken, but could not change what the Babalawo has predicted.
God knows why Akeem did not leave the organisation before now. Perhaps this is the best time to take the tide in his affairs, as William Shakespeare has said in Julius Caesar. Had he taken the tide before now, it could have resulted in another thing.
But Akeem waited until this opportune time. It is my prayer that this tide would lead on to fortune, and not bound in shallows and miseries. Like the philosophical musician, Jim Reeves, said: “This world is not my own; I am just passing through…” PUNCH is not our home, it is a stopgap. We are just passing through. We don’t pray to die here. Sooner or later, we will leave PUNCH, one after the other.
Brethren, on such a full sea are we now afloat? We must take the current when it serves us, or lose our ventures. This is the current Akeem has taken, and I pray it will lead him to fortune.
The Yoruba would say: “Eyin to ku ki emu ra; Eyin to ku ki emu ra; Akeem ti k’oke odo k’afara to ja; Eyin to ku ki emu ra!”
Like Tunde Odesola, my bosom friend; Demola Babalola, my kinsman and “tormentor-in-chief”; Azubuike Ishiekwene, my boss and friend; Steve Ayorinde, a co-pilot in the ESD; Yemi Adebowale, another ESD exponent; and Yusuf Alli, my friend, colleague and boss at various times, Akeem has joined the elite and guarded club of Ex-PUNCHERS. This is the ultimate, where we all aim to belong one day.
Before then, I crave we use any strength left in us to serve the organisation.
Adieu Akeem! The parting yesterday was well made, I guess!
